Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-25
ELECTRIC STREET MOTORS.
A Style of Travel That Is Flushing Its Way
in This Country-Three SYSTEMS.


There is good reason 10 think that the elec-
tric motor is making much more rapid pro-
gress in the United States on street railways
than the cable system. In Richmond, Va,
a well known company is equipping twelve
miles of road on which forty cars are TO be
run. The same company is equipping roads
also at st. Louis, Boston, Woonsocket, Baltl-
more, ST. Joseph and various other points.
At Pittsburg three roads are under construc-
ton. Bmghamton is to have road four and
half miles long, operating eight motor cars.
AT San Diego a road is beng constructed
nine miles long, over which four forty horse
power motor cars are 10 furnish the traction.
But these are only Il few of the more promi-
nent enterprises Not less than fifty-tye or
sixty roads are either under construction or
projected in the United States, and the move
Inent is continually extending. What will
prove one of the heaviest Industries IN the
country is apparently spriugIns up as a con-
sequence OF Inc nt.oduction Of electricity as
a railway motor.
There are three different systems of trans
mission in uso-the first on overhead wires
and the second over wires placed in conduitS,
while the third is operated by means of ac-
cumuators or storage betteries. Asusual III
this country i'll the Introduction OF new IN
ventions, the system which is least expensive
and complicated will he first in securing os-
session of the field. This is known as the
overhead system. A hard drawn copper wire
of small size but great tensile strength is sus-
| pended about eighteen feet above the tracks,
| where it is supported either by bracketed
| posts set in the curb or by special supports on
| lateral wires which cross the street from side
| to side In distributing the current the rails
are generally grounded, and form one side OF
the circuit but in case the connections be-
| tween the rails is not good they are re-en-
| forced by a continuous conductor. trolley,
| which is connected with the motor by sls-
pended conductor, runs along the overhead
| wire, and makes the desired connection With
the engine. In some systems the motor l'
| placed under the car in such manner that nt
space is lost and no detached motor needed
but il other devices the motor is detached
and resembles steam locomotive in III
methods of operation
Tue conduit system, the system which it Il
proposed to apply on the Fulton street roa'
in New York city, is hardly to be called NOR
complicated than the overhead system, bu
the first cost will be necessarily somewha
greater 1t seems also that greater difficult.
will he experienced in meeting the ohstruc
tions caused by wintry weather. But this !
| an obstacle to be met and overcome by tn
resources of invention. For large cities an
in crowded streets it must be found NOR
= available than tire overhead system, with ii
anparenilv greater liability to accident.
: 1t is hoped 10y electricians that the systeI
of storage batteries. or accumulatols, carrie
on the cars and securely packed away Wndt
the seats. may eventually be utilized to a
. extent that will render any outside mechal
isrl unnecessary. This seems to I've the ide'
. system. but 1t does not yet appear to be sufi
cieutIv perfected to enable electricians to dl
peuSe with the use OF conductors along tt
I | tracLs.-New York Sun.